john mccain, lindsey graham from south carolina seemed more furious after they came here than beforehand. so it seemed pretty clear susan rice's nomination, if it were submitted, would be a serious fight that perhaps the president did not want at this point with so much else he's trying to get accomplished heading into his second term. >> gretchen: back to ed henry. i'm wonder, is john kerry cracking the champagne right now? >> there's no doubt. i was speaking to a democrat a few moments before the news broke who was telling me around town a lot of people in senator kerry's orbit are talking about the likely possibility. i will also add to our point about the dira